Every flu season is a soup of viruses

It may surprise some to know that influenza isn’t caused by just one “flu virus”. There are multiple flu viruses which can all cause the flu and they are around Read More ...

Portrait of uncontrolled Ebola

The latest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been a slow burn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the first official report in July 2018. With the wonderful Read More ...

An influenza virus is the sum of its parts

The influenza viruses are a bit different from other viruses that infect and affect our respiratory tract. Their genetic material – the stuff that acts as the blueprint to make Read More ...

Flu, genes, clades and H3N2

Posted onJuly 9, 2019July 11, 2019Leave a comment

We’ve talked earlier about clades; a term which relates to how we can put influenza (flu) viruses that sit under the broad title, “A/H3N2”, into subgroupings. Clades are a way Read More …

H3N2 in Australia – Australia’s unseasonal flu season rolls on

Posted onJune 28, 2019June 29, 20191 Comment

Australia’s unseasonal flu season is still with us, albeit a little quieter than it was. Some jurisdictions have already had a peak and have returned to almost normal numbers of Read More …

Which is the inFLUencing hemisphere, north, south or neither?

Posted onJune 20, 2019June 20, 2019Leave a comment

One of the most common comments I’ve read on Twitter from my northern hemisphere buds these past weeks is – “hey look at those bad influenza (flu) numbers in Australia…that Read More …

Ebola virus disease crosses the border into Uganda

Posted onJune 12, 2019June 13, 2019Leave a comment

The first confirmed case of Ebola virus disease (EVD) has been reported in a child identified in Kasese, Uganda. The child, who died has a history of travelling to The Read More …

Every flu season is a soup of viruses

Posted onJune 6, 2019July 4, 20196 Comments

It may surprise some to know that influenza isn’t caused by just one “flu virus”. There are multiple flu viruses which can all cause the flu and they are around Read More …

An influenza virus is the sum of its parts

Posted onMay 30, 2019May 31, 2019Leave a comment

The influenza viruses are a bit different from other viruses that infect and affect our respiratory tract. Their genetic material – the stuff that acts as the blueprint to make Read More …

The Australian Flunami rolls on

Posted onMay 18, 2019June 28, 2019Leave a comment

Flu. What the heck are you doing? Since November 2018 – traditionally a time of influenza decline as the winter season wanes to a baseline level – you’ve been causing Read More …

Portrait of uncontrolled Ebola

Posted onMay 13, 2019May 15, 2019Leave a comment

The latest Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak has been a slow burn in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the first official report in July 2018. With the wonderful Read More …

More confirmed Ebola deaths than cases?

Posted onMay 7, 2019May 7, 2019Leave a comment

A strange number pattern has appeared in the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s (DRC) Ministry of Health (MOH) Ebola virus disease (EVD) Reports for a couple of the affected health Read More …

Influenza vaccine protection in adults: it’s better than you think

Posted onApril 19, 2019April 20, 2019Leave a comment

It seems like every year we’re told that the timespan for which influenza (flu) vaccination provides us immunity is a little shorter. In the next few posts, I’ll have a Read More …

Virology Down Under

Facts, data, info, expert opinion and a reasonable, occasionally grumpy, voice on viruses: what they are, how they tick and the illnesses they may cause.

Latest posts...

Every flu season is a soup of viruses

Portrait of uncontrolled Ebola

An influenza virus is the sum of its parts

Flu, genes, clades and H3N2

H3N2 in Australia – Australia’s unseasonal flu season rolls on

Which is the inFLUencing hemisphere, north, south or neither?

Ebola virus disease crosses the border into Uganda

Every flu season is a soup of viruses

An influenza virus is the sum of its parts

The Australian Flunami rolls on

Portrait of uncontrolled Ebola

More confirmed Ebola deaths than cases?

Influenza vaccine protection in adults: it’s better than you think